Bangladesh on Monday defeated Zimbabwe by 65 runs in the third One Day international to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. Batting first at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur on Monday, Bangladesh scored 246 runs for the loss of seven wickets. Bangladesh who were at one stage reeling at 71 for four managed to reach their highest score in the series with the help of a 116-run partnership between Skipper Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim. Shakib scored seventy three in ninety one balls while Mushfiqur scored sixty three 63 runs in seventy three balls. Chasing a target of 247 runs, Zimbabwe were bowled out for 181 runs in 48.1 overs. Bangladesh spinner Abdur Razzak continued his good run in the series bagging four wickets while pacer Shafiul Islam also took four wickets. Mashrafe Bin Mortaza and Shakib Al Hasan picked up one wicket each to help the hosts take a 2-1 lead in the series. Zimbabwe had won the opening match by nine runs while Bangladesh leveled the series by winning the second match by six wickets. The next two matches will be played in Chittagong on December 10th and 12th.